A wee bit of good news from Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs (as they wrestle with a staffing shell game, plus the limbo of who will book this year's city festivals): the Music Under the Dome series kicks off this week, offering concerts under the Tiffany dome in the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington.

Thursday night is David Singer with his band the Sweet Science, whose "Arrows" record was widely praised as one of 2010's best. Singer writes intricately formed, highly literate rock songs. Singer's MySpace profile photo is currently an old Woody Allen still, and his music is often just as intellectually probing and occasionally hilarious. It's a good midweek, after-work option -- and it's free! Music starts at 6:30 p.m.